Florida man accused of killing flamingo Pinky is killed by truck

Wednesday

He grabbed the beloved resident of Busch Gardens and slammed her to the ground in 2016, according to authorities.

TAMPA — A man accused of causing the death of Pinky, a beloved flamingo at Busch Gardens, was hit by a truck and died, two months before he was to go on trial.

The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that The Florida Highway Patrol says 48-year-old Joseph Corrao was killed June 5 as he crossed a busy road in Orlando.

Correa was accused of grabbing the Chilean flamingo from a pen and slamming her to the ground while visiting the Tampa theme park with his mother and daughters in 2016. The severely injured flamingo had to be euthanized.

Corrao told police he was trying to show off to his daughter and didn't mean to harm Pinky. He spent five days in jail on a felony charge of animal cruelty.

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